Surfer’s Delight - Easy Basic Brioche Hat By Kathryn Allen for KnitFreedom.com

This basic Brioche hat is great for learning two-color brioche in the round. It features a no-roll brim that uses the Chinese Waitress Cast-On, it is completely reversible, and has a smooth star-shaped decrease at the crown.

Materials Yarn: 55 yds. (50 m) aran- or worsted-weight yarn in two colors DC (dark color) and LC (light color).

Shown at left: Malabrigo Twist in Lettuce (37) (DC) and Teal Feather (412) (DC). Shown on page 2: Malabrigo Twist in Stonechat (173) (LC) and Azul Profundo (150) (DC).

Gauge: 2.75 sts/in. in Brioche stitch

Needles: For aran-weight yarn: One pair each circular needles in US size 7 (4.5 mm) and 5 (3.75 mm). For worsted-weight yarn: US size 8 (5

mm) and 6 (4 mm). Use 40-47-inch-long needles for Magic Loop, or use 16-inch circulars to simply knit in the round. If you use 16-inch circulars, you’ll need a set of DPNs (double-pointed needles) or to switch to Magic Loop to finish the top of the hat.

Finished Measurements Finished size: 8 in. deep, 18 1/2 in. around unstretched. Stretches to fit a head up to 23 in. around.

Abbreviations Br-k – Knit the stitch together with its wrap Br-p – Purl the stitch together with its wrap Br-ssk – Slip 1 st knitwise, slip next st knitwise. One of these sts will have a wrap. Slip the stitch along with its wrap. Knit slipped sts together. Knitwise – With right needle going into stitch from front to back

Version 3.1 - Updated 6/15/19

Purlwise – With right needle going into stitch from back to front Sl 1 – Slip 1

Sl1 wyib – Slip one with yarn in back Sts – Stitches Work in Brioche stitch – On DC rounds, when you come to a DC stitch with a wrap, br-p (see above). When you come to a LC stitch without a wrap, yfsl1yo (see below). On LC rounds, when you come to a LC stitch with a wrap, br-k (see above). When you come to a DC stitch without a wrap, yfsl1yo. Wrap – The cape-like yarnover stitch that accompanies slipped stitches in Brioche Wyib – With yarn in back Wyif – With yarn in front Yfsl1yo – Yarn forward, slip 1, yarnover: Move yarn to front, slip next st, bring yarn over needle to

back, making a yarnover. The yarnover will pass over the slipped stitch and sit next to it like a cape.

Helpful Free Videos (from our How to Knit Brioche video course): • How to Knit Two-Color Brioche in the Round • Tips for Knitting Two-Color Brioche in the Round

Notes 1) When counting stitches, count any slipped stitch along with its yarnover as one stitch.

2) Assign one of your yarns to be the DC (dark color) and the other to be the LC (light color). This reversible hat is shown with the cast-on edge in the DC and the prominent vertical stripes on the outside in the LC.

3. After you cast on, DC rounds will always be “purl” rounds, that is, you will work (yfsl1yo, br-p) around. LC rounds will always be “knit” rounds, that is, you will work (br-k, yfsl1yo) around. These directions are written out in the instructions below.

Go to This Basic Brioche Hat Pattern on KnitFreedom

Version 3.1 - Updated 6/15/19

Instructions CAST-ON With larger needles and DC, CO 64 sts using the Chinese Waitress Cast-On. Optional: You may use similar-sized crochet hook in your right hand to aid in doing the cast-on. Slide sts other end of needle.

With LC, *k1, yfsl1yo, rep. from * to end. The last YO will probably fall off the needle as you are setting up for knitting in the round. Don’t worry, you’ll put it back on there before working the last stitch in Round 1. 64 sts total on needles (see note about how to count stitches).

Setup for knitting in the round on Magic Loop Push sts to middle of needle. Find the mid-point of the stitches (32 sts on either side). Pull out a loop of cable. Push sts onto needle tips. Position the needles so that the working yarns come off the back needle. Make sure there are no twists in the round.

If not using Magic Loop, proceed to the directions below, preparing to work in the round. You will join the round as you knit the first stitch with the working yarn.

HAT Round 1: With smaller needles and DC, *yfsl1yo, br-p, rep from * around. Note: When you get to the last st in the round, be sure to raise the LC working yarn up to the needle, creating the wrap that fell off during setup. Purl this wrap together with the last st. Take care to do this for the last st of every DC round.

Round 2: With LC, *br-k, yfsl1yo, rep from * around.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until work measures 6 3/4” from cast-on edge for a non-folded brim (pictured) or 9” from cast-on edge for a folded brim. End with a br-p (DC) round.

DECREASES Round 1 (LC): *Br-ssk, work 6 in Brioche stitch, rep from * around. You will have two LC sts next to each other after each decrease. 56 sts on needles, 8 sts decreased.

Round 2 (DC): *Sl1 wyib, work 6 in Brioche stitch, rep from * to end.

Round 3 (LC): *Br-ssk, work 5 in Brioche stitch, rep. from * to end. 48 sts on needles, 8 sts decreased.

Round 4 (DC): Work in Brioche st around.

Round 5 (LC): *Br-ssk, work 4 in Brioche stitch, rep from * around. 40 sts on needles, 8 sts decreased.

Version 3.1 - Updated 6/15/19

Round 6 (DC): *Sl1 wyib, work 4 in Brioche st, rep from * around. 40 sts on needles, no sts decreased.

Round 7 (LC): *Br-ssk, work 3 in Brioche st, rep from * around. 32 sts on needle. 8 sts decreased.

Round 8 (DC): Work in Brioche st around. 32 sts on needles, no sts decreased.

Round 9 (LC): *Br-ssk, work 2 in Brioche stitch, rep from * around. 24 sts on needle. 8 sts decreased.

Round 10 (DC): *Sl 1 wyib, work 2 in Brioche st, rep from * around. 24 sts on needle, no sts decreased.

Round 11 (LC): *Br-ssk, work 1 in Brioche st, rep from * around. 16 sts on needles, 8 sts decreased.

Round 12 (DC): Work in Brioche st around. 16 sts on needles, no sts decreased.

Round 13 (LC): Br-ssk around. 8 sts on needles, 8 sts decreased.

Cut yarns, leaving a 12” tail. Using a tapestry needle, feed both yarns through all sts, removing them from the needles. Pull yarn tight. Weave in ends on wrong side, making sure the yarns do not show through to the front side.

Version 3.1 - Updated 6/15/19